CHICAGO — Group Spoon beat Group Coop 129-122 on the United Heart on Saturday night time in entrance of 19,783 followers. The league listed the sport as a sellout. No WNBA All-Star Sport has drawn extra.
The document it changed had held since July 15, 2007. That afternoon in Washington, 19,487 crammed Verizon Heart for a 103-99 East win, and the 2002 sport in the identical constructing drew the equivalent quantity. Indianapolis offered out Gainbridge Fieldhouse final July at 16,988. The final All-Star Sport in Chicago was performed 4 years in the past at 10,387-seat Wintrust Area and drew 9,572.
Get-in value on the secondary market reached $233 forward of tip-off. A yr in the past in Indianapolis it was $71.
Jones‘ Twenty-Two Minutes
Jonquel Jones gained the MVP award. She performed 22 minutes, scored 22 factors, and completed with 13 rebounds and eight assists. Eleven of the rebounds had been defensive. Her line learn 8-of-17 from the ground, 4-of-11 from three, and 2-of-2 on the line.
Jones spoke within the interview room afterward.
„Cheryl Reeve came visiting earlier than I checked again in and instructed me I wanted three extra assists. We tried to run just a few performs to get it achieved, however it did not occur. That is okay.“
Her aunt’s memorial service was held Saturday, hours earlier than tip-off.
„I talked with my household first and bought their blessing,“ Jones stated. „She wished to be cremated, and her ashes shall be unfold later, so I knew I would be capable of be there for that. That is why I made a decision to come back and play within the All-Star Sport tonight.“
Jonquel Jones is the 2026 WNBA All-Star MVP 🌟
She joins Lisa Leslie, Candace Parker and Maya Moore as the one gamers in WNBA historical past to win an MVP, Finals MVP, and All-Star Sport MVP! pic.twitter.com/7taLI8zQvS
— ESPN (@espn) July 26, 2026
The Second Quarter
Spoon led 35-34 after one. Within the second quarter, it outscored Coop 46-30 and carried an 81-64 lead into halftime. The margin reached 18. Coop’s largest lead was 1, and all 12 lead modifications got here earlier than the break.
Group Spoon scored 38 fast-break factors. Group Coop scored 11.
Coop gained the third quarter 29-24 and the fourth by the identical rating. It bought no nearer than seven after halftime. For the sport, Coop shot 50-of-118 and 21-of-66 from three.
Kelsey Mitchell scored 28 on 11-of-19 taking pictures, greater than anybody else on the ground. She additionally had 5 steals.
Most of Marina Mabrey’s 23 factors arrived early. By means of the primary quarter, she had made 6 of seven pictures, 5 of them threes, for 17.
Allisha Grey completed with 19 factors on 7-of-14. Gabby Williams had 18 factors, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists.
Caitlin Clark took 15 threes and made 5. She scored 17 factors, 11 of them within the opening 10 minutes, and had 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 turnovers.
Olivia Miles was the one rookie within the sport. She made all 5 of her pictures and completed with 11 factors, 12 rebounds, and eight assists.
On the 5:03 mark of the primary quarter, each groups substituted a full second unit.
Clark didn’t play in final yr’s sport in Indianapolis.
„It was simply actually enjoyable. It was a terrific celebration of the WNBA’s thirtieth season and every thing we have been capable of accomplish. The gang tonight was unimaginable; we set an attendance document, and anytime you get to play within the United Heart, that is actually particular too.“
Ogwumike Passes Maya Moore
Nneka Ogwumike moved previous Maya Moore for essentially the most profession factors in WNBA All-Star Sport historical past. She scored 11 on Saturday with 9 rebounds and three assists. Her first All-Star Sport was in 2013 at Mohegan Solar.
Below the collective bargaining settlement signed in March, each All-Star receives the identical bonus no matter which group wins. Ogwumike is president of the gamers affiliation.
„We needed to get artistic with the All-Star bonuses and bonuses on the whole. We had a whole lot of completely different conversations, and we thought it was necessary that each All-Star obtain that bonus, whereas particular person awards might nonetheless be one thing gamers compete for.“
The Dunk and the Block
With 6:24 left within the second quarter, Dominique Malonga took a move from Angel Reese and dunked. Malonga completed with 12 factors and 13 rebounds. Jones dunked within the 2017 All-Star Sport.
Paige Bueckers was on the ground for it. She had 12 factors and seven assists.
„She makes it look straightforward. Fortunately she was on my group, so I bought to see it up shut and private.“
A few minute earlier than the dunk, A’ja Wilson blocked a Reese drive. Wilson met with reporters after the sport.
„Angel was not supposed to try this. I used to be attempting to get out of the best way. I don’t like to dam pictures throughout All-Star video games as a result of, what am I doing?“
Wilson performed 13:32 and scored 12. Within the third quarter, Group Spoon challenged a Clark out-of-bounds turnover, and officers confirmed the decision.
Who Performed and Who Did not
Coop was with out Kelsey Plum, listed inactive with a decrease left leg harm. Reese performed 9:16 and didn’t rating, ending with 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Aliyah Boston performed 4:57, all of it within the first quarter.
Breanna Stewart’s 13 rebounds tied Jones and Malonga for the sport excessive. She added 6 factors and seven assists. Jessica Shepard didn’t miss a shot. She took 3 and made 3 for 7 factors, and he or she had 5 rebounds and 5 assists.
Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon served as basic managers and drafted the rosters, a format the league launched for its thirtieth season. Gamers got here from 12 of the league’s 15 groups. The Chicago Sky, Connecticut Solar, and Portland Fireplace had none.
Roy Gulbeyan, Clare Simmons, and Charles Watson officiated. The sport took 1 hour, 41 minutes.
Clark stated she was flying house Saturday night time and on to Seattle on Sunday. The Indiana Fever final performed Wednesday.
